Police ID Suspects in Willimantic Murder

Two brothers suspected in the murder of a Willimantic man Saturday were taken into custody more than 2,500 miles away, at a Greyhound bus station in Phoenix, Arizona, Tuesday, according to police.

Willimantic police identified the victim as Francisco Delazcruz-Coj and were searching for Juan Chach, 24, and Ignacio Chach-Aperez, 26. Homeland Security Agents and the Phoenix Police Department Fugitive Task Force took the brothers into custody at 9:45 a.m. local time.

"We started to track these guys feverishly this morning, and they were in custody within hours," Willimantic Police Lt. Stan Parizo Jr. said Tuesday.

Juan Chach and Ignacio Chach-Aperez are being held in custody at the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona as felony fugitives from justice.

The warrant for Chach carries the charges of murder and tampering with evidence, while the warrant for Chach-Aperez carries the charges of accessory to murder and-tampering with evidence. Bond for both has been set at $1 million.

The suspects were located about 150 miles from the border and the sheriff's office in Arizona has them both on an immigration hold.

A judge decided Tuesday to set up another hearing with a public defender for next week because she did not feel that Chach-Aperez understood the rights he was waiving.

Police found Delazcruz-Coj when they responded to a disturbance call at 38 Pulaski Court around 3 a.m. Saturday.

When officers arrived, they found Delazcruz-Coj with life-threatening injuries and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. The two suspects were seen running and one was bleeding, according to state police.

"This rattled a neighborhood and shook a community. With the assistance of the Phoenix authorities this morning, we're able to calm that," Parizo said.

The two brothers knew the victim well, according to police, but no information has been released on the motive.

State police said they are handling the investigation at the request of the Willimantic Police Chief and the State’s Attorney office and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.